The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed the first case of bird flu (H5N1) in a child in the United States, with the affected child currently recovering in California. This case was initially reported by the California Department of Health, noting that the child is from Alameda County in the East Bay area.
An ongoing investigation by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) aims to determine how the child was exposed to the H5N1 virus. During this investigation, the CDC noted that although other household members showed symptoms and were tested, their results were negative for H5 bird flu. Some did test positive for other common respiratory viruses, similar to the child.
This detection was part of the national influenza surveillance system, which has recently identified this as the second case of H5N1 through this monitoring effort in the U.S. The CDC continues to keep a close watch on data from these systems, particularly in regions experiencing outbreaks in animals.
Since 2022, California has seen significant outbreaks of bird flu among wild birds, domestic poultry, and, more recently, dairy cattle as of August 2024.
Understanding Bird Flu and Its Risks
Bird flu viruses can transmit from infected birds to other animals and humans, although such transmissions to humans are rare. Human infections can occur through contact with the virus entering through the eyes, nose, mouth, or from being inhaled.
Symptoms of bird flu in humans can vary from none to mild, such as eye infections or upper respiratory issues, to severe cases like pneumonia. Given the potential severity, the public is urged to be vigilant for symptoms of influenza-like illness, especially after contact with sick or dead animals within the past ten days.
The CDC assesses the risk of bird flu to the general public as low but acknowledges that those with direct exposure to potentially infected animals or contaminated environments may face a higher risk. They recommend taking precautions such as avoiding unprotected exposure to sick or dead animals, including birds and livestock.
